William Blazey and Mary Anne Clarke

St Saviour's Church, Knightsbridge. Photograph by John Salmon.

William Blazey (b. 7 Nov 1853 in Heigham, Norfolk), youngest son of Francis Stephen Blazey and Hannah Minns, married Mary Anne Clarke (b. 1852 in Furneux Pelham, Hertfordshire), daughter of Joseph Clarke and Elizabeth Randle, at the Church of St Saviour, Upper Chelsea, on 16 Sep 1877. William was then a Servant, of 151 Pavillion Road, Knightsbridge. Mary Anne listed her father as Joseph Clark, Farm Steward. Witnesses were William Clarke, probably Mary Ann's older brother, and Elizabeth Lasthman.

William and Mary Ann Blazey had 10 children:

1. Francis William Blazey b. 29 Dec 1878 (1879 M Quarter in CHELSEA Volume 01A Page 350), bap. 2 Mar 1879 at St Barnabas, Pimlico
2. Maud Elizabeth Blazey b. 1881 J Quarter in ST. GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 432
3. Frederick John Blazey b. 18 Aug 1882 (1882 S Quarter in ST. GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 457), bap. 8 Oct 1882 at Holy Trinity, Vauxhall Bridge Road
4. Annie Ellen Blazey b. 25 Feb 1884 (1884 M Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 494), bap. 23 Mar 1884 at Holy Trinity, Vauxhall Bridge Road
5. Florence Emily Blazey b. 26 Feb 1886 M Qtr in FULHAM Vol 01A 333
6. Sydney George Blazey b. 1 Jul 1888 S Qtr in FULHAM Vol 01A 272
7. Alice Mary Blazey b. 26 Jan 1892 M Qtr in FULHAM Vol 01A 299
8. William George Blazey b. 26 Jan 1892 (1892 M Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 299). (Died 15 May 1892 (1892 J Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 220) and was buried on 20 May 1892
9. Lily Ada Blazey b. 1893 S Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 268 (Died aged 20 in 1913 S Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 300)
10. Charles William Blazey b. 30 May 1895 (1895 J Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 344), bap. 29 Jul 1895 at St Peter's Fulham

All of the birth registrations have the mother's maiden name CLARKE. 

Obviously, Alice Mary and William George, born in the same quarter of 1892, were dizygotic (fraternal) twins, of whom only Alice survived (to 100).

In 1881, William Blazey (27) Cab proprietor from Norwich, Norfolk and Mary A Blazey (29) from Hertforshire, were living at 16, Trinity Mews, St George Hanover Square, Westminster. While I cannot account for the absense of Francis William (2), neither can I find him listed elsewhere.

In 1891, William Blazey (37) Omnibus driver; Mary A Blazey (38), Francis Blazey (12), Maud Blazey (10), Frederick Blazey (8), Annie Blazey (7), Florence Blazey (5) and Sydney Blazey (2) were living in Fulham.

In 1901, at 37, Bishops Road, Fulham, London were William Blazey (46) Omnibus driver; Mary Anne Blazey (48), Francis W Blazey (22) Builder's clerk; Maud E Blazey (20) Barmaid (retired); Frederick J Blazey (18) Stock broker's clerk; Annie E Blazey (17) Dressmaker; Florence E Blazey (15), Sydney G Blazey (12), Alice M Blazey (9), Lily A Blazey (7), Charles W Blazey (5) and Charles E Hall (35) Lodger, Married, Omnibus driver.

Then the first Mrs Mary Anne Blazey died, aged 54, in 1905 J Quarter in FULHAM Volume 01A Page 215.

On 15 Oct 1905, at Saint Peter's Church, Islington, William Blazey (52) Widower, Driver, son of Francis Blazey (deceased) married again, incredibly, to another Mary Ann Clark (41) (no final E's) Spinster of 71 Prebend Street, Islington, daughter of William Clark, Carman. William Clark was also from Norfolk. She brought with her an illegitimate son, John William McCallam Clark b. 1903 S Quarter in ST MARYLEBONE Volume 01A Page 540.

In 1911, William Blazey (57) Bus Driver from Norfolk; Mary Ann Blazey (47) from Islington; Lily Blazey (17), Charles Blazey (15), William McCallam Clark (7), David Howe (46) Lodger, Motor bus Driver and Lily Holmes (22) General Domestic Servant, Visitor were at 37 Racton Road, Fulham. Alice Blazey (20) was Under Housemaid in the household of Cecil Fane (54) at 27 Beaufort Gardens, Kensington (a stone's throw from Harrods Department Store.)

In 1921, William Blazey (67) Taxi driver, Out of Work, was living alone at 5, Adeney Road, Hammersmith and described himself as Widowed. However, just over a mile away at 25, Gratton Road, West Kensington, were Mary Ann Blazey (56) Daily woman, listed as married, with her son, John William Clark (17) Clothes Shop Assistant. Had William not used 'Widowed', this could have had a simple explanation, but as it is, it looks as if they'd separated.

Mary Anne Blazey (59) died in 1924 M Quarter in KENSINGTON Vol 01A Page 291. There was the extraneous E on her middle name this time.

William Blazey (80) died in 1934 J Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 640.

Charles Archer and Kate Trevail

St Saviours Church, Pimlico
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © PAUL FARMER - geograph.org.uk/p/2815323
Picture taken from Chichester Street

Charles Archer (bap. 29 Dec 1861 at St Paul's, Poole, Dorset), son of Charles Archer, Queen's Messenger, and Ellen Briggs, married Kate Trevail (b. 12 Nov 1857 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, at St Saviour's, St George's Square, Pimlico on 10 Apr 1884.

Charles and Kate had three children:

1. Charles Archer b. 10 Jul 1885 (1885 S Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 422), bap. 10 Sep 1885 at St Saviour's, St George's Square
2. Ellen Florence Archer b. 23 Sep 1887 (1887 D Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 423), bap. (and thereafter as Florence Ellen) 6 Nov 1887 at St Saviour's, St George's Square.
3. Eileen Elfrida Trevail Archer b. 19 May 1897 (1897 J Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 450), bap. 18 Jul 1897 at St Gabriel's, Warwick Square

In 1891, Charles Archer (29) Collector, Kate Archer (33), Charles (5), Ellen F (3) and Lizzie Isch (20) General Domestic Servant, were in Chichester Street, Pimlico. (Kate's sister, Olivia and her family, also lived in Chichester Street in 1891.) "Collector" (to disappoint all of us thinking of antiques and curios), in the context of Charles Archer's job, is a Gas Rate Collector, i.e. the bloke who goes round collecting the shillings from the gas meters.

In 1901, still at 8, Chichester Street, Pimlico, were Charles Archer (39) Gas Rate Collector, Kate Archer (43), Charles Archer (15) Mechanical engineer's apprentice, Ellen Archer (13) and Eileen Archer (3).

In 1911, once again at 8, Chichester Street, Pimlico, there were Charles Archer (49) Collector, Kate (53), Ellen Florence (23) Lady clerk, Eileen Elfrida (13) at School and Beatrice Matthews (28) General Domestic Servant.

In 1921, Charles Archer (59) Collector (retired) from Poole, Dorset, was living at 18, Townley Road, Dulwich, Camberwell with Kate Archer (63) and Eileen Elfrida Trevail Archer (24) Music Mistress.

Charles Archer died on 17 Jan 1936 (1936 M Quarter in BUCKLOW Volume 08A Page 270), aged 74.

Kate Archer, as well as Charles Archer Jnr and his wife and Eileen and her husband, were all living in Hale, Cheshire (Greater Manchester) in 1939.

Kate Archer, of Girvan, Leicester Road, Hale, Cheshire, widow, died on 29 Jan 1947 (1947 M Quarter in BUCKLOW Volume 10A Page 176), aged 89, leaving £557 10s to her son Charles Archer.

1. Charles Archer married Gladys Mary Pardew (b. 24 Aug 1885 in Plymouth, Devon), daughter of John Andrew Pardew and Pricilla Nichols Millard, in Bucklow, Cheshire, in 1920. Their son, Charles John Trevail Archer was born on 17 Oct 1921. In 1939, they were living at 23 Crescent, Hale, Cheshire. Charles Archer died on 31 Oct 1956 in Hale, Cheshire. Gladys Mary Archer died in Buckinghamshire, in 1961. Charles John Trevail Archer FFARCS died in St. Marylebone, London, in 1974.
2. Florence Ellen Archer married John Leonard Ravenhill (b. 29 Dec 1881 in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey), son of Henry Ravenhill and Hannah Street, at St Saviour's, St George's Square, Pimlico, in 1911. They had two children: Eileen Nellie Trevail Ravenhill b. 1912 and Harry Kenneth Trevail Ravenhill b. 27 Jan 1917. In 1939 they were at 17 Townley Road, Dulwich, London. Florence Ellen Ravenhill died on 30 Nov 1952 in East Dulwich. John Leonard Ravenhill died in Surrey, in 1970.
3. Eileen Elfrida Trevail Archer married Frank Marsden (b. 13 Jul 1887 in Dukinfield, Cheshire), son of John Marsden and Maria Hallas, in Camberwell, London, in 1927. Frank was a widower at the time of his marriage to Eileen and had a daughter, Joan Doreen Marsden b. 16 Dec 1919, from his previous marriage to May Chadderton, who had died in 1925. Frank and Eileen added a son, John Charles Marsden b. 22 Dec 1927. In 1939, they were living at Girvan, Leicester Road, Hale, Cheshire and Frank Marsden's occupation was Managing Director, Iron Foundry. Eileen Elfrida Trevail Marsden died in Northamptonshire, in 1976.

Adolphe Jacques Froissant & Emma Jane Rundle Trevail

St George's Church, Hanover Square, London W1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1533353

Adolphe Jacques Froissant (b. 8 Feb 1844 in Binas, Loir-et-Cher, France), Bachelor, Cook of Belgrave Square, London, son of Pierre Jacques Alexandre Froissant and Victoire Honorine Langer, married Emma Jane Rundle Trevail (bap. 25 Feb 1843 in Luxulyan, Cornwall), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, at St George's, Hanover Square on 4 Apr 1867.

The couple had one daughter:

1. Florence Emma Froissant b. 29 Nov 1871 (Registered 1872 M Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 346), bap. 21 Jul 1875 at Christ Church, Down Street, Mayfair.

In 1881, Adolphe Froissant (37) Cook (Unemployed) from France was living at 9, Worcester Street, London with Emma J Froissant (38) Wife, Lodging House Keeper from Cornwall, England; Florence E Froissant (9) Daughter born in Pimlico; Harry Keam (17) Joiner from Cornwall; Eliza Stevens (17) General servant; Henry Griffin (24) and William E Beckett (20) Lodgers.

Adolphe Jacques Froissant of 9 Worcester Street, Pimlico died, aged 47, on 26 Dec 1890 (1890 D Quarter in WINDSOR Volume 02C Page 288). Probate was granted to Emma Froissant, to whom he left an estate valued at £426.

In 1891, still at 9, Worcester Street, St George Hanover Square, London, were Emma J Froissant (48) Widow, Landlady; Florence E Froissant (19), Harry Keam (27) Joiner, Cousin; and Sarah A Day (19) Servant.

The Herts Advertiser of 22 Oct 1892 reported on, "... the temporary transfer of the licence of the Royal Oak, Windsor Street [Luton] to Mrs Emma Froissant of London. The references proving satisfactory, the application was granted." And on 8 July 1893, the Luton Reporter listed the Royal Oak transferring from Emma Froissant to Henry Mellins Ollivant.

In 1901, listed as Emily Froissant (57) Widow from Luxulyan, Cornwall, she was living at 14, Balfern Grove, Chiswick with Florence Froissant (27) Daughter and Harry Keam (37) Carpenter and Joiner. (At that same time, Emma's sister, Dahlia Orton, was living next door at 16 Balfern Grove.)

As 'Emily' Froissant, Emma Jane Rundle Froissant died, at 66, on 16 Feb 1909 (1909 J Quarter in BRENTFORD Vol 03A Page 54). Probate was granted to her brother, Charles Trevail & brother-in-law, Charles Archer.

In 1911, Florence Froissant (claiming to be 29) Actress from Belgravia, London was Boarding at 7 William St, Leamington, Warwickshire.

In the 2nd quarter of 1911, Florence E Froissant married a Henry E Wright, in Grantham, Lincolnshire. There are no clues to Henry Wright's origins.

In 1921, there was a Florence Emma Wright (52) Widowed, from Kensington, London at a Boarding House in Great Clacton, Essex, which could relate.

There was a picture of Florence Froissant on a page of "Stage Gossip" in the Leicester Chronicle of 4 Jul 1925, which carried the following item:

Chef to a King

A passion for Paris is confessed to by Miss Florence Froissant, of the "Chuckles" company. Her father was French, and was chef to King Edward VII, after holding similar high positions in Paris, where Miss Froissant was herself trained originally as a modiste. She had the nasty experience when playing once at the Coliseum, Portsmouth, of falling down eight flights of stairs, but just managed to go on and give her act. Florence tells me that among other things she has been pianist to R. G. Knowles.

Her father was certainly French and a cook/chef. Living in Belgravia and dying in Windsor, I already felt sure he must have worked for the Royal Family or closely within their circle. However, Adolphe Froissant couldn't have worked for a king who ascended the throne in 1901, when he'd already died in 1890, but I suppose it possible he did so while Edward was still Prince of Wales. 

There are newspaper reports that confirm Florence worked with R. G. Knowles at least in 1911 and was appearing at the Empire (later Coliseum), Portsmouth in 1912. As to the rest, it's impossible to confirm or deny.

Florence Froissant, using her maiden (and professional) name, appears at theatres around the UK and Ireland through until the end of the 1920s. She appears in comedy, music hall, musical theatre, vaudeville and panto. She was appearing on South Parade Pier, Southsea, in "a lavish production in seven scenes" of Cinderella, which opened on Boxing Day 1927 and featured, a snow ballet and the parade of an "electrically illuminated crystal coach drawn by midget ponies". Florence Froissant, who played the Fairy Godmother, according to Keith Prowse featured the song Charmaine (written in 1926 and published in 1927, later made popular by The Bachelors in 1963). 

It hasn't [yet] been possible to discover what happened to her next, but I suppose her death would be registered under Florence Emma Wright, of whom there have been many, so without knowing where and what age she may have been claiming to be, impossible to isolate the relevant record.

Thomas William Colwill and Olivia Trevail

St George's, Hanover Square
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Anthony O'Neil - geograph.org.uk/p/4518508

Thomas William Colwill (b. 1861 in Pimlico), son of Henry Colwill and Mary White, married Olivia Trevail (b. 1854 in Luxulyan), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, at St George, Hanover Square on 13 Nov 1886. Witnesses were Kate Archer and Charles Trevail, the bride's sister and brother.

Thomas and Olivia had two children:

1. Harry George Colwill born 1888 in Pimlico
2. Elsie Mary Colwill born 1896 in Dalston

In 1871, at 20, was a kitchen maid in the household of Francis Gosling, Banker, at Wellbury House, Great Offley, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. (Goslings Bank was one of the banks merged into Barclays Bank in 1896)

In 1891, Thomas Colwill (29) Labourer joiner, living at Chichester Street, St George Hanover Square, with wife Olivia Colwill (33), son Harry (2), as well as four boarders: Charles Usher (26), Walter Wilham (35), Constance Wilham (25) and Ernest Aller (24). Thomas claimed to be from Taunton, Somerset. He wasn't. Following the clues, we discover that Thomas William Colwill, born in Pimlico in 1861, was the son of Henry Colwill, Joiner, and Mary White - who married in Wells, Somerset, in 1857. Thomas William Colwill was merely baptised at St Thomas, Wells, Somerset, in 1861. 

By 1901, Thomas Collwell (sic) (39) Builder's foreman, living at 24, Back Common Road, Lake Avenue Terrace, Chiswick, with Olivia (36), Harry (12) and Elsie (4), had remembered that he was born in Pimlico.

In 1911, Thomas Colwill (49) Foreman Joiner, Olivia Colwill (53), Harry Colwill (22) Joiner and Elsie Colwill (14), were living at 21 Slowmans Cottages, Ashingdon Road, Rochford, Essex. 

In 1921, T W [Thomas William] Colwill (59) Commercial Traveller; Olivia Colwill (63) and Elsie Mary Colwill (24) Clerk at the Ministry of Pensions, were living at 108, Oval Road, Croydon, Surrey.

Thomas W Colwill died, aged 69, in 1930, in Croydon.

Olivia Colwell died, aged 83, in 1937, also in Croydon.